Dampening mechanism for lithographic offset presses and the like



J. scHULT'z DAMPENING MECHANISM FOR LITHOGRAPHIC OFFSET PRESSES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fild Jan. 7, 1931 m. Y k..mv\b\ m V f W N 4 W MH l h IN Il ,N ,-r il M i, u l l NN ww. l 1M Wil# \/Lw MW i 1H ll! I I H wl M w M KN N AL MN S www QN ww ww@ N E .S Q m\ Rw wh v y Aug- 7, 1934- J. scHULTz 1,961.9,155

DAMPENING MECHANISM FOR LITHOGRAPHIC OFFSET PRESSES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. '7, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zaal. 200@ 'IIII- "UHIIIII Aug. 7, 1934. SCHULTZ v 1,969,155

DAMPENING MECHANISM FOR LITHOGRAPHIC OFFSET PRESSES AND THE LIKE Patented Aug. 7, 1934 UNITED sTATEfS PATENT forli-TlCE f- .DAMPENING MECHANISM FOR LITHO- GRAPHIC OFFSET PRESSES. AND THE Josephfschultz, cleveland, ohio 1 f Application JanuaryA 7,1931, Serial .No.-l 507,096 Y svvciaivin's. (c1. lon-147s) i My invention relates to dampeningdevices, and

more vparticularly to mechanisms Aof lthis Yclassv suitable for supplying moisture to lithographie,v printing and other reproducing and typographical apparatus. The particular' embodiment' of this invention disclosed inthe present applica' tion illustrates this invention appliedto a litho,- graphic offset press. Y v This present invention is a continuation in part of the application on which Patent No. 1,812,720, entitled Dampening device, was granted 'to me June 30, 1931. wise, a further development of the subject matter disclosed in my pending application Serial No.

386,573, filed August 17, 1929 entitled Dampening device for lithographie oiset presses or the like, and also a further development of the subject matter disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 504,786, filed December 26, 1930, en-

20. titled Dampening device for lithographie offset presses and the like, and certain features disclosed but not claimed herein, are claimed in said application Serial No. 504,786.

Certain developments of the subject matter disclosed in this application are shown in detail and are claimed in Patent No. 1,958,593, issued to me May 15, 1934.

As is well known, in the art of lithography, and especially in oiset lithography, the printing plate must be maintained adequately dampened.

It is also well known that a certain minimum amount of moisture must be continuously/supplied to the plate to prevent it frombecoming coated with ink and irreparably damaged. It

is further a fact, that different portions or zones.

of the plate require different amounts of moisture, these different requirements arisingfrom differences in the size and design of the printed areas.

The type of dampening apparatus which has been found satisfactory by long period of use and which has been approved and almost universally adopted for lithographie offset presses, comprisesa reservoir of water` or suitablev liquid in which a water roller is partially immersed, Adapted for intermittent Contact with this water roller isaA ductor roller which transfers the liquid from the water roller to an intermediate roller. This intermediate roller transfers theliquid to -aaplu srality of dampening rollersy which, in turn, distribute the liquid to the plate onthe plate cylini der by rolling contact. This usual@ kand ,well

known distributing device isfintended to vsupply a uniform amount of moisture over the entire n Overcome these dlmuliles, emmerder. www

width of the plate cylinder.

The present invention is,`likel -It will be evident that such a uniform distribution is difficult to obtain because of unequal contacting pressure and consequent unequal moisture transfer' at different points along the' length of the rollers. This defect may' occur between the ductor roller and water roller orbetween any' of the other rollers which perform the moisture transferring function. Thisv unequal contacting pressureand consequent unequal liquid transfer may result from slight variations or irregularities inthe diameter of any ofv thejrollers, unequal adjustment of the two vends of adjacent rollers, springY or deflection of the center of any roller under pressure, Variation'in the water absorbing capacity of. a roller covering, partialy ink or grease coating on the covering of a roller, etc. It should be interpolated that with the above generally used apparatus, in some cases, when it is desired toreduce the amount of moisture transferred by the center of the rollers, it becomes necessary to press the ends of the rollersso tightly together that these ends become dry and collect ink vfrom the plate, this being especially true in the case of long rollers. litv should be' noted that even if the present dampening apparatus did distribute the liquid uniformly, ,this would still not be the desired condition for, mostvplates Ain modern high speed printing.` Iteis well known that those portions of the plate which require the heaviest amounty of ink will also need a heavier amount of dampening liquid` than the portions requiring a relatively lighter amount of ink, or no ink at all. When the liquid is supplied in a' uniformly distributed man. ner to such a plate, with the usual apparatus referred to above, theheavily inked `portions will either not receive sufficient' moisture, or the. lightly inkedl portions will receive. an over supply Y of moisture. The disadvantages resulting from the lack of the'proper supply of moisture to every portion of the'qplate in accordance with its requirements, are uneven color and lack of uniformityy of color on the printed sheet.. A deficient amountof moisture at any portion of the plate will causewhat` is known to the trade as catch-. ingfupjwith ink. It is necessary, with the presentapparatus, for the pressman to continuously y watch his plate. In order to correct the weak spotsthe pressman ,will supply more water to the entire width of the plate than is required and thus overcharge ,certainportions If he does not dov this, it will be necessary for him to add water with a sponge to the dampening rollers at those placesl whereA morewater is required. In an effort to the provision 'of sufficient liquid over the diiferent areas of the plate without overcharging any portion of the plate, I have developed the apparatus to be hereinafter described.

5 The general object of my invention is to provide a device of novel design for supplying moisture to lithographie offsetv presses. or similar printing apparatus, which Will satisfa'cto'rilysup` ply moisture to any 'portion of the platewhere it in proportion to the requirements of such pore tion of the plate.

A further object of this invention issto: produce.. l. a device which will correct Vthe imperfections',

moisture distribution caused by the defects in the construction or operation of the generallyfapa proved type of dampening mechanism.

A further object of this invention is tol'provid'e.;A

in this device means for varying the amount. of water supplied, and to so construct thisd'evice thatits water supplying function. may be entirely interrupted." f, f

A further object ,of thisinvention istdsoirnountV this water. supplying device that. it may quielfzly,y

25 b efmoved transversely of the .direction of moye- Inent'of the plate, thereby adaptingfthis. delvicef to. lsupply water' to. any DQht Vacross'. the` entire..

Width Vof, the plate..

l A fu'rther. object of.' this invention isto. provide. 36,. apparatusof this type which. will.v function. upon.

the novell principle, 'which' consists in. supplying a substantially uniformly ldistributed minimum.

amount of moisture to tliedampening apparatus. throughoutits. enire width,; and adding controllable amounts of. moisture to the` dampening apparatus where 'thev conditionof' the. printingplate.

indicates that this moisture is required'.`

A further object of this invention is to provide. apparatus of this type which canY be depended y upon to maintain the same rate offeedv of 'liquid after having once been adjusted', to suit theV requirements of ,the plate in the. 'press,1 or of' the dampening rollers, and.V which, accordingly, makes it unnecessary for the operator to continuously watch the moisture` condition of'the plate.

' A further object of this inventionis to SD Con-l', struct this 'device that itmay be used, with. the

generally approved and accepted typeof' damp- 5 en ing mechanism now in use on standard presses,

to such presses.`

' the Vother hand'.

A further ancillary object ofA thisfinvention is' to prevent the accumulation of'exces's acid'jwaterz on the ends ofthe ink rollers andthe consequent' "stake ink, thus avoiding the necessity of, counter-f etching' these rollers again so that theyr Will'talrel Afurtherancillary object, of thisinyentin. to provide Ymeans for keeping the dampeningf u rollers and apparatus clean 'and'l free'frc 1 n .i nk;l and. to prevent the; Wear-'andtear-ontlie dampen# ing'rollersjdue' `to' theA consequentv brushing-fand scraping usuallyvv required' tokeepr the Tellers clean, thus reducing ym'aintenancecosts` on these i5?? parts as wellias eliminatingithe expense and deev is required, and which will sup-ply this moisture the. principle of this invention may 'Referring to said annexed drawings:

shown lin. section being taken in and'jthat it may quickly andeasilybe attacliedf Figure 1 is. a. fragmentary front elevational viewxofa portionsofl a standard lithographie oilset press looking toward the plate cylinder and dampeningdevice, certain parts of the press being omitted, this view being taken from the plane indicated byline 1,.1 in.Figure 5.

Figure 2,. is an enlarged fragmentary vertical "sectiontaken in the plane indicated in line 2, 2

Figure. 1y and: showing. my improved dampening mechanism substantially in, vertical .cross section.l certain parts. being.'shown(v in. an alternate position in. broken. lines.. Y Figure 3..is a`. plan view ofthe parts shown in ffull. lines in FigureZ f Figure lfris a fragmentary cross. sectionalvievv through myimproved water transferring belt, this view being ,taken inthe plane indicated by lineJ4, 4 in Figure 2.`

Figure 5 is a View partly in left side elevation andpartl'y in cross section of a portion vof a standard lithographie offset press equipped With.

my improved mechanism, the part of' this View the planeindicated'by line 5, 5 in Figure 1 This figure also shows a. portion of.' my improved vdarnpening mechanism in an alternate position in broken lines.

FigureY 6 is a view similar.V to a'fragmentary usted-t, aeifferent position.

portion of.' Figure 2 showing certain'v parts ad-y hill .les

kFigure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a modied formv of this invention embodying its broad features, this: View` being" similar to Figure V10 in Patent No.1',812,720 issued to vme JuneY 39, 1931. Figure: 8 is"V a perspective view of one of the elements shown in Figure '7 and corresponds with Figure511 inVV said PatentNo. 1,812,720.'

" The-1iquid used for dampening the plate of a lithlographic'oifset press `is usually either water orL afrelatively dilute solution of acid in water,

' ora dilute solution offgum arabic or other mateliti) les rialsffov combinations of materials in water, de

pending upon therequirements. In the following spe''cincationsy and claimstheterms Water,

moisture-and liquid are used interchangeably, andA it isunderstood that these termsare to-includ'e such liquids asare referred'to above, or 'any liquids which may be used with this apparatus'- for the general purposeset forth.

'Intlie drawings onlyso much of a lithographie offset printing press isl` illustrated relation to this invention 'and to the: press and' operation with the press.

Inithesefdrawings';with particular reference to Figuresf 1l and 5, 1 indicates the frame ofl the press; uponv which are mounted fin-well known manner a paper or printing'eylinder2,"ab1anket as bears direct its location on lli@ cylinder 3, anda plate 'cylinder 4'. r'These 'cylinders-fare rotated'by'suitablegears'5, 6 and re'- so'ufrce ofi-powershot: shown."

spectively, fvvhi'chf'arer driven from av suitable tact with the printing plate 8 as clearly shown. The balance of the inking mechanism including the ink fountain, ink distributing rollers and controlling mechanism is not shown, as these devices are well known to those skilled in the art and have no special bearing on this invention.

A usual type of dampening device, such as has generally been approved and adopted for lithographic offset presses and as shown in the drawings, will now be described. 'Two dampening roliers l0, 10 are mounted on the frame of the press for peripheral contact with the plate r8 -on the plate cylinder 4. These dampening rollers l0 are usually covered with molleton andare preferably so spaced that they contact one or more intermediate or distributing rollers 11,. frequently mounted for axial vreciprocation, one such roller 11 being shown in the drawings. Adjacent to this distributing roller or rollers 11 is mounted a ductor roller 12, preferably covered with rholleton, which is oscillatorily mounted to intermittently and alternately contact the distributing roller ll and water roller 13. This water roller 1,3 is mounted on a shaft 14 located abovethe usual pan or reservoir 15 adapted to contain water or other suitable liquid. This pan is supported on the frame of the press in any desired manner. The roller 13 is preferably covered with srdtable water absorbing material 16, in those presses in which this roller rotates at a relatively slow speed, and is frequently provided with a metallic surface in those presses in which this roller runs at a relatively higher rate of speed.

'v suitable material or thickness of material may be used. The roller 13 may rotate either continuously or intermittently. When it rotates ir termittently its rotation is usually simultaneous with its contact with the ductor roller 12 and mechanism is provided for varying the amount of its rotation.

The devices thus far described are quite well standardized on all lithographie offset presses,

-and their method of mounting and method of the intention of this device is to apply a uniform- A` driving, while varying in some features on different presses, are well understood and need not be further described here in detail.

The dampening apparatus just described oper- -ates in the following manner: Water or other liquid is usually manually poured into the pan l5 and is maintained at the desired level by the operator. The periphery of the roller 13 being partially immersed in this bath of liquid, absorbs or conveys liquid by adhesion to its surface, which liquid is transferred to the ductor roller 12 at intervals. This ductor roller, in turn, transfers the liquid to the roller 1l which distributes the moisture to the dampening rollers l0, whence it is applied to the plate 8. It will be apparent that ly distributed amount of moisture to the printing plate, across the entire face thereof.v

` Means are also provided in the standard type of apparatus, for regulating the intensity of. pres.

" sure exerted by the ductor roller on its two adjaspring or elasticity of the: rollers between their supported ends. It will also be apparent that this system makes no provisions whatsoever for furnishing varying amounts of moisture simultaneously to different parts on the plate on the cylinder, nor does it provide means for supplyingV additional water where it may be employed.

My invention which is adapted to cooperate with and supplement the above apparatus, and to remedyits defects, and to augment its performance, will now be described. Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2,'3 and 5, a suitable pair of brackets 17 on the press, support axfixed shaft or rod 18. Adjustably mounted` on this rod are a pair of armsl 19 each provided-with a cap 20 and screws 20a, adapted for clamping the arms on the rod 18. One of these arms 19 is preferably mounted near each end of the shaft or rod 13 and each arm is provided at its lower-end with a pin' or bolt 21 upon which is mounted a second arm 22. Each of the arms 22 is formed with a bore, and a shaft or rod 23 is adapted to pass through the two aligned bores of these arms 22 as will be apparent from an inspection of Figures 1 and 3; Set screws 24 are provided to hold this rod 23 in position axially and rotatably.

The structure just described constitutes `thel support for one or more of my improved shiftable liquid feeding mechanisms. t will be apparent that the shaft 23 may be moved upwardly, downwardly, inwardly or outwardly with relation to the pan 15 and roller 13 by releasing the screws 202L and/or bolts 21 and swinging the arms 19 and 22 to the desired position. It will also be apparent that the shaft 23 may be rotated in the aligned bores in the arms 22 upon the releasing of the set screws 24.

Mounted upon the shaft 23 are one or. more of my improved liquid feeding mechanisms, which I indicate in their entirety by the numeral 25. Two of these mechanisms are shown in vfull lines at 25 in Figure 1, and two additionalmechanisms are suggested in broken lines at 25 in this figure. inasmuch as all of these feeding mechanisms 25 are substantially identical in construction and operation, it will only be necessary to describe one of these mechanisms. v

vThe main housing or support for the operating parts of the dampening mechanism, is indicated at 26, this housing being formed at its lower end Likewise pivotally mounted upon this pin. is a regulator bracket 31. At its outer end this bracket is provided with a pin 32 upon which is mounted a head pulley o-r roller 33. .Mounted in the bracket 26 at a point below the pin 29 and preferably in a direction toward the roller 13 is a pin "e 3,4 vall as clearly shown in Figure 2. Loosely mounted on this pin is a small tail pulley or roller 35. Mounted in the bracket 26 is a thumb set screw 36 adapted to engage a segmental wall 37 of the regulator bracket 31, and hold it xedly in wA novel form of watertransferringb'elt is indiy cated at 38. This belt is preferably made of rubber or other suitable flexible material. This belt Yis isl adapted1 *tof travel on; the pulleys 30,. 33- andi 35 as. shownA in Figure 2,. and for this purpose the inner surface 39 of` this. belt is relatively smooth.` The outer. surface of thisb'elt is! formed with a plurality of. cups: or pockets 4U. These pockets-are formedby a series of longitudinal. partitionsal,

ve in number, as clearly shown in Figures' 3 and.

4, and by a series of cross partitions 42 as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3.V The'longitudinal par'- ttions 41 are formed substantially perpendicularintooperative position with the waterroller 13 in the. pan 15'the foot 26au of the bracket 26 is rested upon the bottom of. the pan 15, and this foot is preferably forced toward the water roller 13 as far as possible without unduly distortingthe belt 38. The. shaft or rod 23 is then xed by clamping the screws gb and 21, following which the bracket 26 is fixed. on the shaft 23 by tightening the set screw ZES-thus securing the brackets in the desired' position with relation to the roller 13 and the pan 1.5.. The water regulator bracket 31I is then swung on its pivot pin 29 until the upper end of the belt occupies the desired relation to the roller 13 determinedby the results required,

as will be explained under the heading of operation;

It will be apparent from Figures 2 and 6 that theposition selected for the regulator bracket will affect the arc of Contact between the belt and the roller and will accordingly affect the length and area oi the-engaging surface. The position shown in full lines in Figure 2'shows substantially the greatest arc` or" contact obtainable between belt and roller, and lesser degrees of engagement are shown in broken lines in Figure 2 and in full lines -inFigure 6. It should be noted that the belt rollers 30, 33 and 35 are so located with relation to the water roller 13 .that the belt will maintain substantially the same `degree of taut- -ness for all usual operative positions oi the belt onftheiwater roller. i

The belt- 38 is moulded in ,the form of an endless ring orV cylinder with the pockets on theouter periphery and, exceptwhen focibly distorted,` always tends to resume its original position. When mounted on this feeding device the belt isA not permitted to assume the circular form but, as will appear from the broken line position in Figure 5, the locationl of theV rollers 30, 33 and35is such that thez belt, when removed from contact withv the roller 13assumes a form as close to the circular as. possible. -When this belt is caused to engage the periphery of. theY roller 13 'a reverse bendis imparted -tothe belt whichV results ini a distortion resisting pressure between the belt and the periphery of the roller 13. -This pressure is, of course, greatest when the are of contact is the greatest.

mechanism. can best be understood by referencev toi Figures 2- andvf6`, and'is as follows: As hereinu before explained thelroller 13'is rotated either inf* terrnttently or'continuously by standard mechrecense anism: on the press. The contact of the outer' surfaceof thev belt 38 with the periphery of the roller 13 causes the belt 38` to travel by' frictional actuation, inl the same direction and at substantially the'same speed as the periphery of the roller 13. As the belt becomes immersed inv the bathof liquid` and passes around the tail pulleyf it collects water in the recesses or pockets 40. Aided by the forwardly and upwardly inclined cross partitions 42 this water remainsA inthe pockets-and is carried upwardly asv the belt 3'8 moves'upwardly. As soon as the outer surface 43 of the beltl contacts the periphery of the roller 13, these recesses or pockets are closed and thisv Water is entrapped in these pockets bythe pe` riphery'of the roller 13. It will be understood that the extreme outer surface 43 of the belt, pressedV tightlyagainst the periphery of the 1oller'13 as previously explained, forms a sufficiently liquid tight seal to prevent the water from escaping from thel pockets substantially until the" belt`38, in passing to the pulley 33, leavesthe periphery 16 of the roller 13. At this point the water' is released and forms a coating' of water on the surfaceof the roller 13 as is clearly shown, somewhat exaggerated, at 44 in Figure 2. It will be noted' that the point or" separation of the belt' 38 from the roller 13, that is, the point of deposit o'f the water upon the roller 13, is located above the center of the roller and', in Figure 2, is located beyond the center, and that the water' which is imprisoned inthe pockets, will be distributed over the surface'of the roller 13, for a width substantially equal to the width of the belt.

It is apparent that this amount of Water will be moretha'n is required for some places'. When it is desired to supply a smaller amount ofv water to any part of the roller 13, the thumb'set screw 36 is'release-d and the water regulatingcastingl is rotated clockwise about the pin 29, as suggested in broken lines in Figure 2 and as shown in full' lines in Figure 6. As will be apparent, when the arc of contact has been' reduced as shown, some of the water released at the point of separation' of the belt and the periphery of the roller, will run down the upwardly moving portion of the periphery of'. the roller 13 and therefore' a smaller coating or water will be supplied to the downwardly rotating portion of the periphery of the roller 13 as shown at' 45-Figure 6, thus making a thinner lm of water available for the ductor roller under these conditions. The amountv of supplemental water surcharged upon the water roller by the belt 38 may be varied'from practi, cally nothing to the maximum capacityoi the mechanism, by adjusting the regulator casting 31'.v

' The amount' oi`.water delivered to the roller by the belt can also be regulated by varying the p'o-v sition of the bottom of the belt with relation'to the roller' 13 and/or to relation to the level of thev liquid in the reservoirv 15. The bottom o'i ythe belt, Which'is mounted on the rolier' 13 may bemoved away from the roller in a direction parallel withv thelevel of the'liquid'by changing the angular position o f' the arms 19 and 22 4one with relation tothe other and swinging one or both, about the shafts 18' or 23. .The bottom of the belt may be movedvertically withrelation to the liquid by' swingingvthe bracket 26 clockwise about the shaft 23, Whichresults in a ymovement ofv the bottom of ,the belt in a direction substantially 'tangential'Y to the periphery of the roller at the point ofcontact of the bottom of the belt with the Water' roller:r 'Either one or both of theV movements justV described will result ina `decrease in the'amount" life.

of water conveyed by the belt. It will be understood, of course, that a movement of the 'lower portion of the belt, necessitating a movement of the bracket 26, will require a movement of the adjusting arm 3i to properly locate the discharging point of the belt." f v Y f The water which is added to any Zone of the water roller 13 is transferred, in turn, to the ductor roller 12, distributing roller ll, dampening rollers lll'and to the plate 8. I have found that this surcharged or supplementary water is transferredto the plate practically in line with its point of application to the water roller and without' any substantial diffusion lengthwise of the rollers. In order to supply additional moisture to any portion of the printing plate, therefore, it is only necessary to determine the corresponding point on the water roller which rdelivers liquid to this portion of the plate, and locate this mechanism to feed the required additional water Atothis point on the water roller.

This water feeding mechanism above described, is accordingly mounted to permit its lateral movement so that -it maybe shifted to feed this supplemental liquid from the reservoir 15 to the water roller 13 at any point across the entire face of the roller, in order to satisfy the varied requirements of the printing plate. vIn order to shift this mechanism laterally it is only necessary to release the thumb screw 28, andthe bracket 26 may be shifted laterally on the shaft 23 until it is opposite the desired place on the water roller 13, whereupon the bracket 26 may again be xed by the tightening of the thumb screw 28. In order to vV permit the rapid movement of this mechanism laterally it may be desirable to swing the bracket outwardly away from the reservoir and roller 13, as shown in broken lines in Figure 5. The bracket 26 may be fixed in the position shown in broken lines in Figure 5 by clamping this bracket by means of the thumb screw 28, and this is the position occupied by this bracket when it is desired to entirely disengage the belt from the water roller.

Any number of these feeding mechanisms may be used with the water roller. Figure 1 shows two of these devices in full lines, and two devices in broken lines. The devices in full linesV are placedopposite the two zones on` the printing plate marked 821, 8a, whichA are presupposed to r: respective ends of the roller 13, in broken lines,

are shown at those places 'which usually 'require' additional water because of ythe fact that the rollers are frequently so tightly pinched atthe ends that they become relatively dry at these places and will collect ink from the printing plate Unless water is' surcharged at these places. This pinching of the rollers at the end is generally for the purpose of providing a suiciently thin coating of moisture at the center of the rollers,

I have found that the use of one of these improved devices at each end of the. water roller` prevents any accmnulation of ink at these points,

thus eliminating the need for frequent cleaningv of these rollers and thereby lengthening their Alternative forms' Figures 7 andA illustrate Aa modified form of one of the important features of this invention,

yvthe form illustrated in these riigures being an.

earlieradaptation of this idea. In fact,'these two figures are repro'ductions'of Figures 101and 1'1 of PatentNo.'1;812,720 entitled Dampening device, with which the present application was co-pendingin the United States Patent Office. Referring to these iigures, 13 indicates a water roller covered with` suitable absorbing material 16. -This water roller is mounted on ashaft 14. located above the usual pan orreservoirof water or other suitable liquid, which is not shown in this figure, vbut 'which is similar to the pan 21 as illustrated in Figure 8,V for instance, in the said Patent No. 1 812,720, or to the pan 15illustrated in' present application. Thiswate'r roller 13' is assumed tobe partially immersed in the bath of liquid contained in the reservoir or pan as will be understood.

An auxiliary trough independent of the pan-or reservoir in which the water roller 13 is immersed, andwpreferably located above the same, is indicated at 46. This trough may be supplied with liquid in any desired manner, 'but preferably lby means of a uniform feeding device Asuch as the pumping system illustrated in Patent No. 1,812,720. This trough is lprovided with ancver.- flow 47 which maintains ,they level of theliquid in the trough constant. Any liquid which passes over the voverlow17 is carrie'daway by the drain pipe 48, and an additionaldrain pipe 48 is' provided for emptying the trough. 'This trough 46 is providedwitha vmetallic lining 49 which ex-Y tends over one wall 4.6 ofjsaid ltrough,L forming acurved lip 50 extending 'oversaid wall.` p

Guided upon this lip 50 and .supported on the bottom wallof the trough 46 is a siphon capillary wick element indicated in its entiretyat 51'. 'This element consists of va bifurcated spring finger 52 formed with a grip porton'53.- A Ystrip of mol-1 let'on 51 is attached tothe finger 52 preferably by stitching, substantially" near the bottom of the'twolegsn52 as shown at' 55 and 56. The

length of the molleton between the two stitched'- upper vportion 54 of` the molleton loosely rests on the curved lip, 50.,In this manner the element`51 is mounted in a stable yet loosemanner on the curved `lip 50and bottoml fof the trough. Anextension 57 of the molletonldepen'ds below the stitched portion 56 andrests freelypnthe water roller 13'. f

-The element 51, Vby means vof the .molleton 54, will transfer liquid from the trough 46direct1y to the water` roller 13 bycombined?capillary and siphon action. It will be evident that the element 51 maybe' moved from one position4 on the wall 46 to. any otherdesired position lengthwiseof thetrough, that isparallel withthe axis ofv the roller 13. kIn this manner.V additional liquid may be applied toany place on the water roller, as j.

may b e indicated by the requirements of the corresponding position of the rprinting plate. yA plurality of these Siphon capillary wick elements furnish supplementary liquid to all portions V'of thev printing plate, whichmay require i additional moisture. VIt will be understood that the regula; tion of the amount of-.liquid supplied to any one of these elements 51 maybe obtained byl'lifting` this element vertically vron the wall,in whichcaser the tension of the spring linger 52 ,will be sufri-v cient to hold the e1ement 51 in this -adjusted po-f lsiegt. It will also .be v-llriderfvvd that iffeny .150'

one A,of ithe elements, or group -of .elements-5,1 is no longer required :to supply water to :the roller 131 these elements ,may fbe entirely removedfrom the trough 46.rvr i Y The important features'i'llustrated vin Figures Tand 18 which are similar tothe featuresembodied in the preferred form of this invention are, l(l) the provi-sion of means for feeding liquid to a` dampening member, .and in .turn to as printing plate, VWhich is mounted vso as to be shiftablo transversely ofthe `path of movement ofthe sur-A face v,of =the plate and/'or of 'the'dampening member vand, 1(2) the provision. of ,means lfor vadding ,1,5 liquid toa pre-coated dampening member,.. this means being movably mounted so asvto be adapted to deposit this additional liquid upon any point across the face of .the member. yThe device illustrated n'Figures v'Z and diiersfrom the .pre- ,m ferred form of .this invention in that the dampening member receives .its .uniform 4coating and .its additional ,liquid from the same reservoir in A.the preferred form of the invention, while in `the 'modi'ed form of this .invention .the uniform ,coatsI ,25, ing of thedampening member .is supplied vby one reservoir V`and-the additional liquid is supplied from another reservoir. ,l It will be evident vthat theA invention above described may be embodied in many other forms Without departing from' the spirit and scope of this invention.V v It-.is apparent for. instance, .thatA the supplementary liquid .need not vnecessarily be added tothe Waterroller, but `the liquid feeding mechanism may be mounted to feed ,theI water to 85 anyone of the :other rollers in the usual .dampenf ingpapparatus," Infact, this laterally shiftable device may be mounted to .feed the liquid to ,any other typer of liquid distributing ,apparatus or member, such as abelt or apron for instance,

9, or to any 4other mechanismadapted toA transfer liquid .to .the printing plate.' In its broader aspects lthis novel feeding device'manually tshiftable to selected positions transverselyof the path .of movement VofV the plate, may be mounted to.

feed liguid directlyupon the printing plate, which may, or may not, .have 'been pre-,moistened by any other Vmeans for supplying liquid. .Many

modifications may vfurther be madeinthe details ofconstruction of the apparatus shown,}F,or

Se, instance, vthe water transferring `belt 38 need'not.

* be provided 4With a plurality offregular lindie vidually -distinct molded pockets., A sponge rubber comprising smaller pockets might ,be ,used to replace the molded pockets and, infact, theA ,.5 material ofwhch the belt ismade vneed.,r1o' beY rub-ber, ras any material which has 'the property 0f collecting Water Lby adhesion orabsorptionfand Which is capable .of transferring thisvyvater Y,to

another member, maybe used; such .for instance, las fabric material, felted molleton, Tete., ,It will *also beunderstood that `these belts .maybe made' of lany desired width. Itis also Vimportant to note,`

that the belt element need not .beloosely `mounted and frictionally driven .by a roller. "',My ,inven-y @R 'tion contemplates positive driving means orthis -belt element which may, or .may no.t,[,be asso` is Eto Joev fused, must be provided with a support corresponding with vthe rod v23.

i, Many :other :modifications -oftl-ri's :invention and its application -w1l naturally occur t0 'fthose skilled in the art, and the ,present disclosures should therefore be considered Vas typiead only,` vand I desire ,not to ibe `limited 4to .the exact, :con struction shown and described.

What I claim is:

Il.v Ina lithographie press, a, printing gala-te movably mounted -onsaid pressmeans ,adapted to feed a uni-formooat of liquid to said-plate, and ,an element .adapted to feed additional liquid vto a portion y of saidplate, `said element 4c(impr-rising means for regulating 'the amountroi additional liquid delivered and 'being :shiftable 'in a direction A.'mans-verse'ly of :the rri-'ovementv 'of said' plate.

2. In a lithographie press, a printing plate, va distributing member, means for coating the distnibuting member substantially uniformly 'with liquid, an element adapted :to feed ladditional liqto ,said distributing member, said ldistributing member 'being .adapted to .transfer thel tio..- uid' to .said .printing plate, and said element -:being :movable transversely of said press. Y

13..'In` a lithographie press, Ia printing plate, a distributing member, xmeans for ,coating .the distributing member substantially uniformi-y with .an :element adapted zto'feed .addirtional liquid to said distributing member, distributing member 1being adapted izo-transfer the liquid to vsaid @printing spiate, .and said element comprising zmeans for regulating fthe amount of .additionail'iliduid .fed 1,and @being Inovable transversely .of saidpress. y

I 4, Ya lithographie press, :a printing plate movably mounted :on said press., a source .of :liq-

:a ldistributing member, .means for uniformly coating vlSaid distributing member with liquid from lsaid source, .an eslement for .superimposmg 11,5 additional l-iquid from said lsource upon .said distributingmember, v:said distributing member being adapted to transfer :liquid to ssaid :printing plate, and said element being shiftable trans# uersely .of thedirection :of movement lof said v plate..

:5. .a lithographie press, :a :printingl plate. mtwabh7 mounted on said press, .a reseryor of liquid, .a moving `distributing .surface immersed in said liquid for 4a portion of its path :of movement,fand;1an galement adapted -to .add :liquid fto said distributing surface after its immersion said liquid, said element being ,shift/able in a direction transversely of Vthe Ymovement of vsaid plate, and isad surface being adapted to -gtransfer 'liquid to saidplate. f l

6. In a dampening device for ,-a [lithographie press, :a bath of liquid, a travelling surface :coil--` lecting a coating offliquid from said bath, and means adapted yto superimpose a relatively -nar. row :zone Kof v:liquid from -said :bath on Said Vcoated surface, said means being adjustable transversely-of the ,direction of travel of said surface.

.7.y In avqdampenng .device .for va lithographie. press,` a .bath of liquid, a roller ,having its lower periipheli7 immersed in saidbath, .and mechanism adapted to :deposit a relatively narrow coating, of "liquid ,from said .bath ,1111.011 the `upper periph'ery of said roller, said mechanism being adapted to move parallel to the axis of said roller, Q1 45 whereby said relatively narrow coating may be' deposited at any -point along Vthe length of said roller. y Y Y.

8. In a dampening device for a jlithographic press or the like, VVa plurality of ldamvpener rollers adaptedlto distribute Water, a 'bath of Water, Iand 150 meehanism'actuated by one of-said rollers adapted to transfer water from said bath to one of said rollers, and means for regulating the amount of water transferred, said mechanism being mounted for adjustment in a direction parallel with the axis of said roller.

9. In a dampening device for a lithographie press or the like, a bath of water, a roller, and an endless flexible belt adapted to lift water from said bath, comprising a relatively smooth inner face and a plurality of recesses on its outer face, said outer face engaging a portion of the periphery of said roller.

10. In a dampenin'g device for a lithographie press or the like, an endless rubber belt adapted to lift water, comprising a plurality of pockets longitudinally separated by partitions inclined with relation to the plane of the belt.

11. In a dampening device for a lithographie press or the like, a roller, a. bath of liquid, and a relatively narrow travelling belt partially immersed in said liquid and adapted to transfer liquid to said roller, said belt being mounted in mechanism adapted to shift said belt in a direction parallel with said roller and adapted to fix said belt in said shifted position.

12. In a dampening device for a lithographie press or the like, a bath of liquid, a roller partially immersed in said bath, a movable belt, mounted on a plurality of pulleys adjacent said roller, adapted to be actuated by said roller and adapted to transfer liquid from said bath to said roller.

13.l In a dampening device for a lithographie press or the like, ia bath of liquid, a roller partially immersed in said bath, a movable belt, mounted on a plurality of pulleys separate from said roller, adapted to deposit water from said bath upon said roller, and means for regulating the amount of liquid deposited.

14. In a dampening device for a lithographie press or the like, a roller, a bath of liquid, and a travelling belt partially immersed in said liquid and adapted to transfer liquid to said roller, and means for regulating the depth of immersion of the belt in the liquid.

15. In a dampening device for a lithographie press or the like, a roller, a bath of liquid, means, comprising a water transferring belt, adapted to transfer water from said bath to said roller, said belt being adjustably mounted for movement toward and from the axis of said roller and in a direction parallel with said roller, and means for holding said belt in said adjusted position.

16. In a dampening device for a lithographie Y press or the like, a roller, a bath of liquid, a relatively narrow water transferring belt adapted to contact the periphery of said roller and means for varying the area of said Contact, said belt being shiftable in a direction parallel with the axis of said roller.

17. In a dampening device for a lithographie press or the like, a bath of liquid, a rotatable roller partially immersed in said bath, a movable water carrying belt adapted to contact a portion of the periphery of said roller and means for varying the are of contact between said belt and said roller.

18. In a dampening device for a lithographie press or the like, a bath of liquid, a roller having a portion of its periphery submerged in said bath, a movable liquid transferring belt contacting the periphery of said roller, and means for varying the point of separation of said belt and said periphery.

19. In a dampening device for a lithographie press or the like, av rotatable roller, a bath of liquid, a movable belt partially immersed in said` bath' and contacting said roller and adapted to transfer liquid from said bath to'said roller, and means adapted to regulatethe vdepth of immersion of said belt in said'bath, and means adapted to vary the point of vdeposit of the liquid by said belt upon said roller. l

20. A device for lifting water comprising a rotating roller and a movable belt formed with a plurality of recesses on its outer surface, said outer surface contacting the periphery of said roller for a part of thev path of movement of said ybelt and means adapted to partly fillI said recesses with water Aprior to the contact of said surface with. said belt. A 21. In a dampening device for a lithographie press or the like, a bath of liquid, a roller partially immersed in said bath, and a device adapted to transfer liquid from said bath to said roller, comprising kan endless beltrunning on a plurality of pulleys, at least one of said pulleys being mounted for movement towardv and from the periphery of 'said roller. Y

22.- In a dampening deviceA for a lithographie press or the like, a roller, a bath of liquid and a movable belt adapted to-Ytransfer liquid from said bath to said roller', said belt being mountedv inv a pivotally'supported bracket. Y f

23. In a lithographie press, `a movable plate, a liquid distributing device, arbath of' liquid, a travelling surface collecting a coating of liquid from said bath, and means adapted to super- Y the entire face of said roller, whereby said zoneV of liquid may be applied at any position upon said roller.

25. In a lithographie press, a movable plate, a Water distributing device adapted by contact to transfer water to said plate, and an appliance for supplying Water to said device, said appliance comprising a bath of water, a roller partially irnmersed in said bath, and means for delivering water from said bath to the upper half of said roller.

26. In a lithographie press, a printing plate mounted on a rotatable cylinder, a plurality of liquid feeding units each adapted to feed liquid to a portion of said plate, and said units each being individually adjustable in a direction parallel with the axis of said cylinder.

27. In a lithographie press, a printing plate mounted on a rotatable cylinder, liquid distributing means extending transversely of said press and adapted to apply liquid to the surface of said plate by contact therewith, and an element adapted to feed liquid to a relatively narrow portion of said distributing means, said element being mounted on a transverse member on the press and shiftable on said member transversely of the press substantially across the entire Width of said plate.

28. In a lithographie press, a printing plate mounted on a rotatablev cylinder, liquid distributing means extending transversely of said press vlil() and contacting said:plate, and a plurality of elements each adapted to feed .liquid 'to a relatively narrow portion 4of said ldistributing means, said elements each being individually shiftable transversely of the press.

29. In' a lithographie press, a vprinting plate mounted -on a rotatable cylinder, a reservoir of liquidinounted on said press, a capillary rdevice adapted to feed liquid from said reservoir to a relatively :narrow -por-tionof vsaid plate, said device ybeing mounted on -said press and being shiftable relatively to said reservoir in a direction parallel with fthe `'axis of said plate, and adapted'to vary the amount of liquid fed from said reservoir.

'.30. I-n fa :lithographie press, a printing plate mounted on a rotatable cylinder, and `a relatively narrow capillary `Wick element adapted to feed liquid to fa,r relatively narrow portion of said plate, said .element being provided with a holder of substantially the same Width as the element andvsupported on a member extending transversely of 'the press, said -melnber .being adapted toV permit the shifting of theelement in a direcj tion parallel with the axis/of the cylinder.

Y. 3.-'1. In fa dampeni-ng jdeviee for 'lithographie presses lor the like, a reservoir of liquid, a roller, and a portable element adapted to transfer liquid by vcapillarity and Siphon action from said j reservoir directly to said roller, said element adapted to 'be -axially moved with relation to said roller,.and portable .means for rholding said Ielement in position.

. 32. In a dampening device for lithographie `j presses or the like, a .reservoir of liquid, a :roller and a liquid absorbent element, one portion of said element lbeing immersed in said liquid and another portion being in contactv with said roller, said element adapted to be axially moved with relation to said roller, and means movable with the element adaptedto hold the element in operative position. v

'1m-espiar 33'. In a dampening device fora lithographie press, a reservoir of liquid, a roller partially immersed in said "liquid, an auxiliary reservoir of liquid, and means ladapted to transfer liquid from said auxiliary reservoir -to saidroller, said means being movable in a direction parallel with 'the axis of said roller.

'34. -In a dampening device for a .lithographie press, a reservoir of liquid, a .roller partially irnmersed in said liquid, an auxiliary reservoir of liquid and a wick element adapted to transfer liquid from said `auxiliary reservoir to said roller, said element being mounted in a portable holder adapted to be adjusted axially along saidroller. 35. A liquid feeding device adapted vto ,supply liquid to a lithographie plate mounted on a `plate cylinder, comprising a reservoir of liquid land a portable element adapted to `feed liquid by capillarity and Siphon action from said reservoir, means adapted to transfer said liquid to said plate, said element being adapted to be axially moved with relation to said plate cylinder, and being adapted for adjustment with relation/to said reservoir for varying the amount of lliquid fed by said element. y' 3-8. In a lithographie press, a printing plate mounted on a rotatable cylinder, means for coating the plate with moisture, and a device adapt! ed to feed additional moisture to ,a relatively IUD narrow portion of said plate, said device being c shiftably mounted on a member-extending transversely of the press.

37. In a lithographie press, -a printingl .plate mounted on a rotatable cylinder, means adapted to coat said plate with liquid, a reservoir of liquid mounted on said press, a device adapted to feed additional liquid from said reservoir to a relatively narrowportion of said plate, said device being mounted on said press and being shiftable in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of 4said plate; n

' JOSEPH SCHULTZ. 

